PMQs: David Cameron And Ed Miliband Fight Over Whose Donors Are Worse

Bankers Or Barons - Who's Worse?

After a kicking last week over Labour's union links, Ed Miliband cast the Conservatives as the "party of the privileged" in Prime Minister's Questions.

Calculating that bankers rank below union barons in the public's hate list, the Labour leader sought to portray the Tories as the party of "hedge funds" and "millionaires" as he spoke of his party's links with "ordinary working people".

A memo had clearly gone round with the day's tactics, as Labour backbenchers joined in, raising questions about the sources of Tory funding.

It is claimed that over half of the Tories' donations come from the finance sector, and Miliband claimed £25m had been given to the Conservatives by hedge funds, as an open-mouthed Ed Balls feigned astonishment at the figure.

In response, David Cameron frequently listed the multi-million pound donations given by the likes of Unite and the GMB, telling the House Unite had "fiddled" party seat selections.

He claimed there was "a big difference" between donations to Labour and the Tories.

"They paid their money, they bought their votes and they put him in his place and he hasn't changed a thing," he said.

Miliband, referring to "working people" rather than trade unions, contrasted the 6p weekly union levy with "a party funded by a few millionaires a the top."

He called on Cameron to back his proposals for a limit on outside earning for MPs, a ban on paid directorships and a £5,000 donations limit.

Cameron claimed this would lead to the public being asked to fund political parties.

When Miliband claimed the Tories were bankrolled by millionaires, the Prime Minisiter said Labour was "the party of Len McCluskey."

Which of those two will voters deem to be the most toxic?

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